New bridleway opens in village near Plymouth

A NEW public bridleway has officially opened in a village near Plymouth.

The 650-metre construction is designed to provide a safe off-road route between housing at Newnham and Hemerdon village.

The bridleway was created by mining company Wolf Minerals as part of major infrastructure works ahead of the Drakelands tungsten and tin mine near Hemerdon coming back into production.

Jeff Harrison, UK operations manager for Wolf Minerals, said: “We recognised the community benefit of creating this new public bridleway on completion of the Newnham link road which has itself delivered a positive impact by removing a dangerous section of road.

“The bridleway project could not have been achieved without the support of the Cobbold family, as landowners of the Newnham Park Estate, and the Devon County Council public rights of way officer Helen Clayton.

“This route provides a safe walk or ride through a delightful bluebell wood and across a stream. Almost 6,000 trees planted along the link road nearby will soften the landscape in seasons to come.”

South Hams district councillor Ian Blackler said: “This bridleway will make it easier and safer for local people to explore and enjoy the countryside on their doorstep. Wolf Minerals should be commended for responding positively to the suggestion of a bridleway as a community benefit from the link road scheme for Sparkwell, Hemerdon and Plympton residents.”

Preparatory works for the mine project are well under way with a £130 million funding and investment package behind it.

200 direct jobs will be created and hundreds of millions of pounds will boost the local economy during the construction and production phase of the mine project.